Hand-operable labeling machine



Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,590 C. E. PUTNAM HAND OPERABLE LABELING MACHINE Filed May 22. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

Invenror. Carl E. Purnam B WMW Ar tys.

Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,590

C. E. PUTNAM HAND OPERABLE LABELING MACHINE Filed May 22. 1926' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3.

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Carl. E. Pufnom b wwaw Patented Nov. 8, 1927 UN 1 ED Sf.

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CARL E. PUTNAM1OE1FAIRPGR$ NEW YQRZT, ASSIGNOR .OF ONE-HLA.LF .TO? EUTNAIYB, F NE JV HAMPSI ZIREI HAND-OPERABLE 'LABEEIIFTG M ACHIN Application filed; May .22,

which may be carried in the hand and open ated to apply adhesive to the under face of thellabel andto. vaflix the label upon-the article towhich. it is tobe applied 'by bodily movement of themachine.

The. usuah methods of, applying labels to H) usualhand method which consists in laying the labels face down upon a bench or plate applyingpasteto eachlabel witha brush as it is. laid :down andafter anumber of labels,

have been thus pastedlremoving the labels individually,.placingthe same upon the. articles by. hand andlwipingr them .down with a cloth; second, employing a suitable. machine to apply paste. to. the label and. afterwards applying the, label tothebox or other articlezby handand wiping: itd'own with a cloth. Such machines vary from simple hand-operated devicesfto whichthe .lahelsqare fed by hand, ,to power driven automatic label. feeding' machineshavi-ng a conveyer to carry the pastedv labelsflto the. operator. so that the.

la iter may apply thcnrto the boxes .or other articles by hand third; automatic machines in which the labels and packages are fedinto the machine and. the labels automatically pasted and wrapped upon the boxes or articles.

The present invention comprises a machine which is carriedin the hand and is provided with a reservoir for the adhesive anda label support .With manually-operable.means for advancing the label, applying adhesive thereto andlby the bodily movement of the ma" chine affixing the label tothe article.

One. of the features of the inventioncomprises an' adhesive-applying roller which with'a (:O-OPGIEttlIlfI roller servesto advance the label and apply adhesive thereto ant which is actuated by the finger. of the opera tor.

Another feature of the invention relates to means for regulating the amount of adhe- Five applied to the label.

A further feature of the inventioncomprises means. preferably in, the form of. a,

squeegee: roller. operable simultaneously with the rotation of the adhesive-applying roller to apply. the label smoothly upon the article to whirliitisto be affixed.

- able. labeling machine. boxes and. other articles comprisefirst. the.

port'lfi illustrated. hereinv is 1928. Serial No. 111,967.

Other objects and featuresof the invention willmore fully appear from the following description and the accompanying, drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the. claims. I

A preferred embodiment- ..of. the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a port-- Fig. 2 is a plan view. of the same;

Fitz? 3 iSjiLglOD-flitlldillfll sectional view showing: a number of labels. carried. by the label-supporting means. and a label in the. act of being applied to a box, and

4 is a detail nlanview of the adhesiveapplying roller. and a stripper for thelabels passing over the adhesive-applying.rollera The label pasting machine .illustratedin the drawings comprises a chambered base .1} providing a reservoir 2 for adhesive. 7 he front end wall f the base is bevelled to presenta label-supporting and guiding-sunface which desirably extends at an. angle to the plane. of the bottoinof the. base 1. A top or cover 5 for the reservoir 1s. secured to thebase and a handle member is-secured to said cover centrally thereof.,- Thehandle member comprises. a hand grip. 6 which pref erably extends in parallelism to the. cover 5,

the front end of the, hand grip 6 being,inte..

, 'ral with an inclined. plate .7 which has. at,v

itslower end a boss 8 which isv secured by a. screw 9 .to the cover 5. Theother end .of the hand grip 6 isformed integral withan inclined tubular support lOhaving at its lower enda flange 11 which is screwed to. the" cover member. her .12 of the handle support 10 communis cates with a corresponding aperture 13 inthe top and provides a conduit. throughfwhiclr the reservoir may be filled withadhes ive.

The longitudinal 'cham-.

The upper end of theconduit12;.desirably, is

provided with a s rew-threadedplug l4 to prevent the escape ofadheslveg An :adhesive-applying roller 15 is .journailed in the side walls of the reservoir adjacent' the frno-t end 3 thereofv and. is partially submerged in the adhesive A1 label:

support. desirably. in the form ofaplat-e 16,

is adiustably.secured :to 'thelplaten-T 0t the handle member and is provided. at its lower.

cnd with an arcuate surface complementary to the surface of the roller.. .Theiabei supa tie-6i. with. 3

label support adjustably thereto.

slots 17 and 18 to receive bolts 19 and 20 which are seated in the plate 7 and securethe' A doctor blade 21 desirably is adjustably clamped be tween the label support 16 and the plate 7.

Preferably the adhesix' e-applying roller 15 is provided with a plurality of annular grooves into which strippers 22 project which serve to remove the labels from the adhesive applying roller and cause it to pass over the inclined guiding surface 4;- The doctor blade 21 has projections which are complementary to the grooves of the roller. By reason of this construction the label support 16 may be adjusted in desired proximity to the roller and the doctor blade may be so set as to regulate tllGtlLlClUlQSS of film of adhesive which is applied by the adhesive-applying roller to the under face of the label.

A single label or pile of labels which have beenso manipulated that their lower ends are successively exposed may be held by the hand of theoperator or other suitable means upon the label support so that the lowermost label may be fed to the adhesive applying roller which is rotated by suitable means to advance the lowermost label and apply adhesive thereto.

In order to ensure a proper feeding of the labels a co-operating presser roll 23 is provided which is ournalled in bearings 24 which are slidably mounted in bearing blocks 25 which are secured to the label support 16. Suitable helical springs 26 which are interposed between the bearing blocks 25 and cooperating plates 27 serve to force the presser roll. 23 yieldably toward the adhesive-applying roller 15.

The adhesive-applying roller 15 and the presser roll 23 are provided respectively with gears 28 and 29 of equaldiameter and the gear 28 is driven by a larger gear 30 rotatably mounted upon a stud shaft 31. The gear 30 has secured to it a ratchet 32 wh ch is engaged by a springectuated pawl 33 which is carried by a. gear 3-1- and the gear 34-is operated by a toothed sector 35, the

hub 36 of which is secured to a shaftg37 journalled in suitable bosses on the cover 5 of the reservoir and provided with a lever 38 which may be actuated by the finger of the operator. An arm 39 extending from the shaft 37 is connected by a helical spring 40 to a suitable anchorage upon the cover 5 ofthe reservoir and serves normally to re turn the sector to the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the device the raising of the lever38 by the finger of the operator rotates the sector 35 in a counterclockwise gear 30 which is attached to the ratchet The gear 30 transmits rotation to the gears 28 and 29 thereby simultaneously rotating the adhesive-applying rollers and the presser roller which co-operates with it so that when the lower end of the label is engaged in the bite of the adhesive-applying roller and cooperating presser roller it will be advanced and a. film of adhesive simultaneously applied to the under surface thereof.

The strippers 22 prevent the label from being carried into the reservoir by the adhesire-applying roller and also direct it along the inclined surface 4 of the labelsupporting and guiding means. Thus the label may be forced along the labelsupporting. means, pasted and delivered to the article to which it is to be applied.

Suitable means are also provided for pressing the labels smoothly upon the article.

The preferred means which is illustrated herein comprises a squeegeeroller 41 of rubber or other suitable material, the shaft of which is journalled in bosses 42 extending beyond theinclined surface 4: ofthe front wall 3 of the reservoir. The gear 13 desirably is secured to the shaft of the squeegee roller and is driven through an idle gear 44- which i s mounted in a stud shaft projecting inwardlyfrom plates 14* which are secured to the base 1. The gears 43 and 44- preferably are of the same diameter as the gears 28 and 29 sothat the squeegee roller is rotated at the same speed as the adhesiveapplyjin roller 15 and the presser roller 25 but it will be understood: that anydesired ratio of gearing may be employed.

By virtue of this construction the entire train of gears are operated in unison to feed labels from the label support, apply adhesive thereto, and also to affix the label upon the article to which it is to be applied.

The presser roller 25 hasa series ofribs 4:5 presenting narrow edges to engage the upper surface ofthe label. Such narrow edges prevent the accidental transmission of a sutlicient amountof adhesive to the presser roller to interfere with the proper operation of the device. i d

The label supy'iort 16 desirnbly is provided with extensions 4:6 which project into the grooves of the adhesiveapplying roll and the bite of the adhesive-applying and presser rollers.

An edge guide 4:7 desirably is secured to one of the edges of the label-supporting table 16 so that the edges of the label-or pile of labels upon said support may be pressed against the guide and the labels thereby cop: veniently directed by the operator properly into the bite of the adhesive-applying and presser rollers. y

In the operation of the machine a label. or preferably a pile of labels which have been. arrang ged to have theirlower endssuecessively exposed, are held placed upon'the label support 16 with their edges against the presser roller. The-squeegee rolleris then placed upon the artiQle tS to which the label is to be applied and tl'ie fingerlevei- 38 raised by the operatoruntil the lowermost label is advanced by therotation of the adhesiveapp'lying and presserrollers l5 and 23 over the surfaces l into engagement with the article. KP- hereupon the whole machine is moved along the article simultaneously with the turtl er raising of the finger lever 38 so that the-rbtat-in'g squeegee roller'will press the label dow-nsmoothly up'on the article. Thus lubels may be rapidly and smoothly applied to the articles,the' unovement of the machine being controlled mainly by the en gagement of the'posi roll w ith the ar it being applied.

It will be understood that the en'rbodimenl; ofithe 'invention' disclosed herein. is o'fan illustrative character and that various changes inftorm, construction and arrangement ot' parts. mayibe made within the spirit and scope'of thei't'ollowiug claims.

l-laving thus uescribed the invention, what is claimed asrnew incl-desired to be secured yely'driven squeegee le-to which the label is bys Letters Patent, is:

l 1.xA bodily movable hand-operable labeling machinerompnsmga handle, label supporting meansyan adhesivecontaimng reservoir-,and manually-operable means having a 'leverla daptedYt beactuated'bvthe hand which "grasps thehandile for advancing a label from-said label-supporting means and simultaneouslya plying adhesive to one face of: the label 'd m ing, but independently I of, the bot .lyTnovement of: the ulabelling machine.

QJA bodily movable hand-operable labeling machine comprising a handle, label-supporting means-1, an adhesive-containing reservoir, 'ma'n-ually o'perahle means, having a lever adapted -to "be *e; etuated by thev hand whichrgras-ps thediandle for advaneing the label from said illabel-supporting means: and sl m u'ltaneously applying adhesive to one ta cc of the labelduring, but independently of, the bodily movement "of the l aibelliug machine, and adjustab'le means It'or regulating tshe amount of aadhesive applied to the label 3. A bodily movable llfiiillSl-OPSL "his labeling machine comprisingaliandle, label-supporting means; an adhesive containing reservoir, ina nually-opera ble "means, having n lever 'adapte'd to be actuated by the li and tvl iclrgrasps the handle 1 for advancing the la ifrom saidlabel supporting means and sim ltaneously applying: adhesive to one face ot' the label during,but independently of, the bodily movement of the labelling ma chine, means operable by bodily imovem ent of said' maelii-ne to press the adhesive-coated label smoothly upon the artitle to- Whielrit is applied.

4. A-bodily movable hand-operable labeling ma'chine comprising "label-supporting means, an adhesive-conta1;ni11g re-Je'1.'v0ir, manually-operable means for advancing the label from said label-su 'ipor'tmg' means'and simultaneously applying adhesive to one face elithe label during, but independently of, the bodily movement of the labelling machine, and a squeegee roller-positioned to engage the label-as itis advanced from the adhesive"-applying means, and operable conjointly by the manuallyoperable labeledvancing means and by a bodily movement of said machine to press the adhesive-coated label smoothly upon the article to 'wliiolr it is applied. l

.5. A bodily movablehand-operable labeling. machine comprising areservoir for an aklhesive, a handle, label-supportingmeans havingasloti communicating with said reservoir, inanually operablermeans for advancing a label' from said supporting means, includ-' ing an 'adliesive applying "roller partially submerged in the adhesive andz hawing its peripheral surface extending through said slot, and gearing having'an'operating handle tor-rotating said adhesivc-applying roller independently of the'bo'dily "movement of the labelling machine. a

6. A bodily movable hand-operable labeling; machine comprising a reservoirior an adhesive, 21. handle, label-supporting means having a slotcommunicating with said reservoir, manually operable means for advancing' a labelirom saidsupporting means, i eluding an adhesive-applying roller partially submerged in the a cl'l iesiveand hating;-

;its peripheral surface extending through said slot, 'igearin'g having an operating; handle for rotating said adhesive-applying roller independently ot' ut-he bodily -*movement oi the labelling machine, a doctor bladexcooperating with saidadhesive-applyingroller, and means for a'djusting said blade relatively thereto to regulate the amount of adhesive applied to the label,

7. A bodily movable IllErIlCl-Op1"LlJl6 labeli n ="machinecomprising a reservoir for an adhesive, 1 a handle, label-supporting means havinga; slot communicating with said reservoir,"manually-operable means fOl" 2IClElI1C iligaflabelifrom'said supporting means, including adhesive applying roller: partially submerged in the ad iesive and having its peripheral surface extending through said slot, gearing h aving an operating: handle for rotati said adhesive applying 'roller indepe-n'dently "of! the bodily movement of the labelling machine, 'whereby the latter will apply a coat'ofadhesive' to the under face of said label, and'a squeegee roller positioned to engage tllGTJHCOtItG-Cl siide otithedabel and operable conjointly by Fsaid ananually opei able means and by a bodily movement of the machine to affix the label. to the article to which it is applied.

8. A bodily movable hand-operable labeling machine comprising a reservoir for an adhesive, a handle, a labelsupporting means having a slot communicating with said reservoir, manually-operable means for advancing a label from said supporting means, including an adhesive-applying roller pan tially submerged in the adhesive and having its peripheral surface extending through said slot, means for rotating said adhesiveapplying roller independently of the bodily movement of the labelling machine, whereby the latter will apply a coat of adhesive to the under face of said label, a squeegee roller positioned to engage the uncoated side of the label and operate. by a bodily movement of the machine to allix the label to the article to which it is applied, and means for simultaneously rotating said adhesive-applying roller and said squeegee roller.

9. A bodily movable hand-operable labeling machine comprising a reservoir for an adhesive, a handle, label-supporting means presenting a slot, communicating with said reservoir, an adhesiveapplying roller partially submerged in said adhesive and having its peripheral surface extending through said slot, ayieldable roller c-o-operatingwith said adhesive-applying roller, a train of gears for rotating said rollers, and manually operable means for actuating said train of gears independently of the bodily movement of the labelling machine.

10. A hand-operable labeling machine comprising a reservoir for an adhesive, a handle, label-supporting means presenting a slot, communicating with said reservoir, an adhesive-applying roller partially submerged in said adhesive and having its peripheral surface extending through said slot, a yield able roller co-operating with said adhesiveapplying roller, a train of gears for rotating said rollers including a ratchet-actuated gear, and a spring controlled finger lever having a toothed sector engaging said i'atchetactuating gear.

11. A hand-operable labeling machine comprising a reservoir for an adhesive, a, handle, label-supporting means presenting a slot, communicating with said reservoir, an adhesive-applying roller partially submerged in said adhesive and having its peripheral surface extending through said slot, a yieldable roller co-operating with said adhesive-applying roller, a squeegee roller located in proximity to the end of and co-operating with the label-supporting means, and a train of gears for rotating all of said rollers including a ratchet-actuated gear and a spring controlled finger lever having a toothed sector engaging said ratchet-actuating gear 12. A hand-operable labeling machine comprising a base member chambered to provide a reservoir for an adhesive and having an end Wall presenting a label supporting and guiding surface disposed in inclined relation to said base, a handle member mounted on said base, a label support adjustably mounted upon said handle, presenting a surface lyingin the same plane as the label supporting and guiding sur a face of said end wall with its front end in proximity to the front Wall of said reservoir to provide a slot therebetween, an adhesiveapplying roller journalled in said basehaving its periphery partially immersed in the adhesive and projecting through said slot, and a yieldable roller co-operating with said adhesive-applying roller and manually-op: erable means for rotating said rollers to advance the label from said label support and to supply a coat of adhesive to the lower face thereof. a

13. A hand-operable labeling machine comprising a base member chambered to provide a reservoir for an adhesive and having an end wall presenting a label supporting and guiding surface disposed in inclined relation to said base, a a handle member mounted on said base, a label support adjustably mounted upon said handle, presentinga surface lyingin the same plane as. the

label supporting and guiding surface of said 'end wall withits front end in proximity to the front wall of said reservoir to provide a slot therebetween, an adhesive-applying roller journalled-in said baseihaving its periphery partiallyimmersed in the adhesive and projecting through H said slot, a

yieldable roller co-operating with said adhesive-applying roller and manually-operable means for rotating said rollers to advance the label from said label support and to apply a coat of adhesive to, the lower face thereof, and a doctor blade co-operating with the adhesive applying roller and adjustably clamped between said adjustable label support and said handle member.

14. A hand-operable labeling machine comprising a base member chambered to provide a reservoir for an adhesive and having an end wall presenting a label sup porting and guiding surface disposed in inclined relation to said base, a handle membermounted on said. base, a label support adjust-ably mounted upon said handle, presaid end wall with its front end in proximity to the front wall of said reservoir to provide a slot therebetween, an adhesive applying rollerjournaled in, said base having its'periphery partially immersed in the adhesive and projecting through said slot, and a yieldable roller co-operating with said adhesive-applying roller, a squeegee roller mounted on said frame in proximity to the inclined label supporting and guiding surface of said end Wall, and manually-0perable means for rotating all of said rollers.

15. A hand-operable labeling machine comprising a base member chambered to provide a reservoir for an adhesive, an adhesive-applying roller journalled in said base having peripheral circular grooves and located in proximity to one end Wall of said reservoir, strippers extending from said end Wall into said grooves and presenting continnations of an inclined label-guiding surface of said end Wall, a roller having ribs presenting narrow edges co-operating with said adhesive-applying roller, and manually-operable means for rotating said co-operating rollers to advance a label from said labelsupporting means and coat one face thereof with adhesive.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CARL E. PUTNAM. a 'S.] 

